Giant Dragon Lord: Starting from Daily Intelligence

Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Storm Griffin

The next morning, the first ray of sunlight pierced the thin mist on the horizon, spilling onto the scorched and chaotic battlefield.

The soldiers of the Black Stone Army had been busy all night, and the slaughter from the previous evening seemed to linger in the air.

Most of the soldiers were weary, but more than that, they were exhilarated.

Overnight, the Blood Wolf Corps, which had been entrenched in the Black Stone Mountain Range for many years, had been utterly wiped out. This scourge that had been a persistent headache for Black Stone Territory was finally gone.

A few of the bolder Black Stone soldiers muttered amongst themselves.

”Tch, that old dog Carl ran rampant for over a decade. To think he’d fall so fast.”

”Sir Ed is incredible. One strike! Just one strike! And Carl was supposed to be an Earth Knight, right? Gone, just like that?”

”Heh, that strike from Sir Ed... I’d say it was faster than lightning!”

Their chatter was filled with awe for Raylo and admiration for Ed’s martial prowess.

This clean and decisive victory greatly boosted the morale and cohesion of the Black Stone Army.

[Daily Intelligence Refresh]

[1: A particularly massive Wild Boar King is rampaging through the forest on the territory’s edge. Several Hunters have tried and failed to capture it. It has been nicknamed the ’Running Mountain of Meat.’]

[2: A small amount of sand gold has been discovered upstream on the Black Water River, near Black Stone Territory. However, the deposits are extremely low-grade and have little mining value.]

[3: The Wandering Knight, Alex ’Gale,’ has appeared in a tavern in Black Stone Town. He is reportedly searching for a Treasure Sword named ’Broken Star.’]

[4: An adult Iron Armor Earth Dragon has built a nest in the northern mountains of Black Stone Territory. It is ill-tempered and extremely territorial. The Iron Armor Earth Dragon is a Tier Three Magical Beast, and its Leather is an excellent material for making Fine Armor.]

[5: After experiencing the great battle, the Apprentices in the Knight Training Camp, stirred by the heat of combat, have successfully activated their Seed of the Knight. In the coming week, a new batch of young Knights, including Thor, will emerge.]

[6: ...]

[7: Roughly thirty miles beyond the northern border of Black Stone Territory, an intermittently erupting sulfurous hot spring has been discovered. The surrounding environment is harsh and has produced some accompanying rare minerals.]

[8: ’One-Eyed’ Hades, leader of the Stone Crow bandit group based in the Eastern Hills, received news of the Blood Wolf Corps’ destruction. He has secretly sent small groups of bandits into their former territory, attempting to move in on the power vacuum.]

[9: An injured Storm Griffin has fallen in northern Black Stone Territory. It was defeated and severely wounded deep in the Black Stone Mountain Range while fighting another Magical Beast over a Dragon Language Flower. The Storm Griffin is a Tier Three Magical Beast; its eagle beak and sharp talons are incredibly lethal. Among griffins, the Storm Griffin is known for its exceptional speed and agility.]

[10: After their daily feeding of Magical Beast Growth Potion, the two Armored Rhinoceros calves will mature past their juvenile stage within a week. One of the calves has not yet been contracted to a Knight. Please assign a Knight to it as soon as possible, as contracting with a Magical Beast becomes significantly more difficult after it leaves its juvenile stage.]

The sunlight scattered the mist, but it couldn’t disperse the smell of blood and dust lingering in the air.

The battlefield, which had been in an uproar all night, gradually fell quiet. All that remained were the busy figures of the Black Stone soldiers as they cleaned up the aftermath.

Raylo, however, wasn’t basking in the afterglow of victory.

”Bolin,” Raylo called out.

Knight Bolin, who had been showing much more initiative lately, entered at the call.

”My lord.” Bolin bowed slightly.

”How are we handling the prisoners from the Blood Wolf Corps?” Raylo asked.

”We are sorting through them now, as you commanded.”

Bolin spoke with clarity.

”After the initial screening, we have identified thirty-seven die-hards. These are the worst of them, responsible for numerous deaths. They’ve been isolated and are awaiting your final order.”

Raylo nodded.

”Scum like that are a menace. There’s no point in keeping them alive. Execute them publicly. Let their blood atone for their sins.”

”Yes.”

Bolin didn’t hesitate for a moment.

”Additionally, we’ve identified over 120 people who were villagers from nearby towns, recently captured by the Blood Wolf Corps. We have confirmed their identities.”

”Hmm. Since they are innocent, give them sufficient rations and let them return home.”

”The remaining two hundred or so are veteran members of the Blood Wolf Corps, but they don’t have much blood on their hands. Most were just followers who went along with the group. Some of them seem to have a conscience left and even grumbled about Carl’s brutality. As for your intentions...” Bolin continued.

”These people.”

Raylo pondered for a moment.

”They can still be reformed. Break them up and reorganize them into a ’Penance Camp.’ They’ll be assigned the most arduous labor in the territory, like mining and building roads. Have them strictly supervised to prevent any unrest.”

”Yes, my lord. Finally, there are eighteen Knights and two Great Knights. Although they followed Carl and became bandits, they didn’t commit many atrocities. Their crimes don’t warrant death,” Bolin said.

”Incorporate them into the Knight Order as Redemption Knights. They are forbidden from leaving the camp without a direct order. If they distinguish themselves in the future, you can give them a chance to swear their fealty.”

”See to it.”

Raylo waved his hand.

Bolin accepted his orders and withdrew.

After killing Carl in a single strike the night before, Ed had become noticeably more confident.

”My lord.”

”Gather a Pegasus Knight Squad. Prepare Beast Capture Nets and ropes. We’re taking a trip to the edge of the territory.”

A glint flashed in Ed’s eyes. He knew his lord had found something good again.

”Understood!”

Soon, ten well-equipped Pegasus Knights had assembled in the clearing outside the castle.

”Move out!”

At Raylo’s command, twelve Pegasi beat their wings and soared into the sky, kicking up a gust of wind as they flew toward the northern mountains.

The wind howled around them in the air.

From high above, the entire expanse of Black Stone Territory came into view.

The scorched battlefield looked like a scar on the land, but in the distance, newly built houses, freshly tilled fields, and the bustling figures of people were brimming with new life.

Following the general location from the intelligence report, the Pegasus Knights spread out to search the mountain forests.

Before long, one of the Knights gave a signal.

Raylo immediately guided his Pegasus closer.

There, at the bottom of a steep ravine, lay a massive griffin—the Storm Griffin.

It had the powerful body of a lion, covered in tawny feathers, while its head and fore-talons were those of an eagle. Its beak and claws shimmered with a metallic luster.

One of its wings was twisted at an unnatural angle, and a gash on its belly was so deep you could see bone. Fresh blood stained the rocks beneath it. Its breathing was faint; it was clearly gravely wounded and had already lost consciousness.

’It’s here, just as expected. And badly wounded.’

Raylo assessed the griffin’s condition.

’Looks like it lost the fight for the Dragon Language Flower and was severely wounded by another powerful Magical Beast.’

”Proceed as planned!” Raylo ordered.

The ten Pegasus Knights quickly fanned out, taking up advantageous positions.

They took out the large nets and ropes they had brought.

Several large nets were cast simultaneously, blanketing the unconscious Storm Griffin from different angles.

The nets fell with precision, tightly enveloping the griffin’s massive body.

”Tighten the nets! Secure it!”

The Pegasus Knights spurred their mounts, slowly pulling the netting taut.

On the ground, Ed and several other Knights worked together, carefully hoisting the heavy Tier Three Magical Beast into the air.

The journey back took much longer.

The giant griffin, cradled in the net and suspended between several Pegasi, was flown slowly and steadily back toward Black Stone Town.